パレスチナ問題及び中東情勢（議題37及び38）に関する総会本会議における石兼大使ステートメント
令和3年5月20日
(As delivered)
Mr. President,Japan expresses its serious concern about the devastating situation surrounding Israel and Palestine. In particular, we have seen on a daily basis the launching of rockets by Palestinian militants in an indiscriminate manner and military operations by the Israel Defense Forces, both of which have caused a large number of civilian casualties on both sides. There have also been a series of acts of violence in the West Bank including East Jerusalem and in Israel. Japan strongly condemns acts of violence and extends its condolences to the victims and their families. In this connection, Japan stresses the importance of protecting civilian facilities, including UN-related sites, and humanitarian access to the affected people in Gaza.
Japan is convinced that the issues of the Middle East Peace Process can never be solved through violence but only through negotiations, based on relevant UN Security Council resolutions and internationally agreed parameters, as well as through efforts to build mutual trust between the parties to the conflict.
The situation goes against the efforts by the international community to seek a two-state solution wherein the state of Israel and a future independent state of Palestine live side by side in peace and security.
The ceasefire agreement just announced by the parties should be fully implemented, preventing further escalation of the situation. Japan strongly urges all parties to exercise maximum restraint to end the vicious cycle of violence as early as possible, and to prevent harrowing casualties of innocent civilians.
I thank you.